BRATTLEBORO- The leaves are changing in the hills of southern Vermont, and that means it’s time for the members of Brattleboro-West Arts to open their studio doors and offer the public a window on the creative process and an intimate look into the environments where art happens.

During BWA’s fifth annual Open Studio Tour September 28 and 29, 20 artists and craftspeople will show their work from 10 am to 5 pm each day at 14 locations, many of them along the dirt roads that wind among the wooded hills of West Brattleboro and Marlboro.

Visitors will have the chance to view, buy, and learn about a diverse selection of art and craft items, including blown glass, pottery, metalwork, paintings, sculpture, woven baskets, woodworking, and jewelry. Some participating artists also will give demonstrations of their techniques.

Visitors to any tour stop can enter a drawing to win one of two prizes made by participating artists. Josh Bernbaum donated a pair of his blown glass ornaments, valued at $45 each, and Jackie Abrams is offering a one-of-a-kind woven vessel titled “A Woman of Many Cultures,” valued at $650. The prizes will be on display at their respective sites during the tour.

A map of the self-guided tour appears in brochures available at any stop on the tour, as well as in various businesses in Brattleboro and surrounding towns. The brochure is available online at www.brattleboro-west-arts.com. Also on the website, get a preview of the tour’s offerings, past and present, in BWA’s new video, “Things Made With Wakened Hands,” which was produced locally by Rolf Parker-Houghton of Stanzas of Light.

In conjunction with the tour, the Chelsea Royal Diner in West Brattleboro will host a localvore dinner buffet from 5 to 7:30 pm, September 28. In addition to sampling a selection of locally produced foods, the public will have a chance to share a meal with BWA members and the community at large.

Since 2009, the annual tour has been organized and promoted by the participating artists and made possible in part by the support of local businesses and organizations.

Visit www.brattleboro-west-arts.com for more information about BWA, including profiles of member artists, the menu for the localvore dinner, a list of tour supporters, and news about other upcoming events. Email questions about the tour to info@brattleboro-west-arts.com or phone Walter Slowinski at (802) 257-1030.

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